Process for peparing 21-alkyl ethers of cortisone



Patented Aug. 11, 1953 PROCESS-EOE PREPARING 21 -'ALKYL ETHERS: OF CORTISONE Huang Minlon, Metuchen, N. J and John C. Babcock, Cambridge, Mass., assignors to -Merck & 00., Inc., Rahway, N. J a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application December'23, 1950,

Serial No. 202,566

13 Claims. 1

This invention is concerned generally with novel alkylated derivatives of cortisone and with novel processes for preparing the same More particularly, it relates to A -'3,11;20-triketo-17- hydroxy-Zl-alkoxy pregnenes, to the process of preparing these 21-a1koxy pregnene compounds starting with A -3,21-dihydroxy-ll-yketo 20-cyano-pregnene or 3,21-diacyl derivatives thereof, and to intermediate compounds utilizedin said process.

The novel A -3,11,20-triketo-17-hydroxy-21- alkoXy-pregnenes, subject to the present invention, may be chemically represented as follows:

wherein R1 is an alkyl radical.

Although A 3,11,20 triketo -"1'Z,-21.--idihydroxy-pregnene and 21-acyl derivatives thereof have been prepared. heretofore itohas onot' yet proved feasible to prepare the corresponding 21-alky1 ethers using either the-2l-hydroxynor the 21-acyloxy compound as a starting material.

The 21-alkyl ethers of certain hydrox yirstero'ids have been prepared by. reactin ,the'appropriate 2l-halo derivative with alkali metal-alcoholates and by reacting theZI-diazo derivatives-with copper oxide and methanol. These methods-are unsatisfactory for preparing 21-alkyl ethers of cortisone since no-convenient'method is available for the. preparation of the requisite -21-'lialoand 2 21-diazo derivatives of .'A -3,11,20-triketo-17,21- dihydroxy-pregnene.

We have now discovered, however, that A 3,11,20.- triketo 1'7 hydroxy 21 alkoxypregnenescan be prepared by a novel procedure which is conducted as follows: A 3,21- dihydroxy-l1-keto-20-cyano-pregnene or its 3,21- diacyl derivatives (Compound 1 below) is reacted with an alkali, such as an alkali metal hydroxide, in solution in a lower aliphatic alcohol; thereby producing the corresponding A 7-3-hydroXy-11- keto 20 .cyano 21 alkoxy pregnene (Compound 2). This compound is then reacted with an oxidizing agent thereby converting the hydroxy substituent in the '3-position to a keto radical to produce A -3 ,1l-diketo 2fi-cyano 2lalkoxy-pregnene (Compound 3). The latter compound is reacted with osmium tetroxide thereby producing the 17,20-osmate esterioi 3,11- diketo 17,20 dihydroxy 20 cyano 21 alkoxy-pregnane (Compound 4), which is then reacted with a hydrolyzing agent to form 3,11,20- triketo-17-hydroxy-21-alkoxy pregnane (Compound 5). This pregnane compound is then reacted with bromine to form 3,11,20-triketo-4- bromo 17 hydroxy 21 alkoxy pregnane (Compound 6) which-is'reacted with a dehydrohalogenating agent vto form the desired .A

3,11,20 -qtriketo 17 hydroxy 2l alkoxy pregnene (Compound 7).

I with anqoxidizing agent toproduce the=17, 2i0 .osmateester of ;3,1l diketo 1'7;2O -dihydroxy 20- -;cyano-Z-l-alkexy;pregnane (Compound 4) The; reactions indicated above can be chemi- .cally represented as follows:

CN\ /CH:OR EDGE: /CN 0 O H I O O Alcoholic alkali R0 HO H H Compound 1 Compoud 9 Alcoholic Alcoholic alkali 2.11m;

Osmium Tetroxide ON oxidizing Hogent o H 0 Compound 2 Compound 3 Compound 8 Osmium tetroxide oxidizing agent OHIO R1 i ON V -O (IEHZO R 0 SO: 0:0 I OH 0 O- Hydrolyzing agent -r H E Compound 4 Compound 5 Brominj/ (IJH O R (IJHZO R1 9:0 3:0

0 H OH O Dehydrohalogenating agent 0 O Compound 6 In the foregoing formulae, R is hydrogen or acyl, and R1 is an alkyl radical.

Previously the conversion of A -3,21-dihydroxy-ll-keto-ZO-cyano-pregnene (or its 3,21- diacyl derivative) to compounds wherein the substituent in the 3-position is converted to a 3-keto group, while retaining in the 21-position a hydroxy or substituted-hydroxy grouping, has been achieved by other less satisfactory procedures. For example, this transformation has been achieved heretofore as follows: the A -3,21- diacyloxy-ll-keto-20-cyano-pregnene (where the diacylated compound is used as the starting ma- Compound7 A -3,2l-dihydroxy1l-keto-20-cyano pre nene. The A -3,2l-dihydroxy-ll-keto-ZO cyano-pregnene is then subjected to a partial acylation reaction whereby the primary 2l-hydroxy substituent is preferentially acylated while leaving the secondary 3-hydroxy radical unchanged. The resulting A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20 cyano- 21-acetoxy-pregnene is readily oxidized to the corresponding 3-keto-derivative without affecting the 2l-acetoxy substituent. Alternatively, the A -3hydroXy-1l-keto-ZO cyano 21 acetoxypregnene can be reacted with osmium tetroxide, and the resulting 17,20-osmate ester of 3,17,20-

terial) is first hydrolyzed to the corresponding trihydroxy 11 keto 20 cyano 21 acetoxymaul pregnene oxidized to the cor-responding *3-keto derivative utilizing chromic acid. The overall yield obtained according to the foregoing procedures, however, has ordinarily been less than about 50% due, in part, to the fact that the foregoing partial acylation reaction is not clear-cut, and results in the formation of a considerable amount of diacylated by-product.

It was therefore an object of the present invention to accomplish the conversion of the 3- 'hydroxy grouping in A -3,21-dihydroxy- 1l-keto- 20-cyano-pregnene to the corresponding 3-ketoradical without oxidizing the hydroxyl substituent attached to the 21-carbon atom. It was a further object to accomplish this conversion by selectively (and quantitatively) converting the 21- the present invention, and as indicated hereinabove, by reacting n -3,-21-dihydroxy-1l-keto- 20-cyano-pregnene with an alcoholic alkali, whereby the 21- hydroxy radical is selectively etherified Without affecting the hydroxy grouping in the 3-position. Moreover, we have discovered that when this novel reaction procedure is employed, the resulting A "3-hydroxy-11-keto- 20-cyano-21-alkoxy-pregnene can be recovered from the reaction mixture in a yield of over 80% of that theoretically obtainable.

It is a feature of the present invention that it is possible to utilize, as the starting material in the presently-disclosed process, besides the A 3,21-dihydroxy-11-keto20-cyano-pregnene, also 3,21-diacyloxy derivatives thereof, Without the necessity for subjecting such diacylated compounds to a preliminary hydrolysis operation.

'When A -3,21-diacy1oxy 11 keto 20 cyanopregnene is reacted with alcoholic alkali, the desired A -3-hydr0xy-1l-keto-ZO-cyano 21 alkoxy-pregnene is produced directly and can be recovered from the reaction mixture in a yield of over 80% of theory based on the A 3,21-diacyloxy-1l-keto-ZO-cyano-pregnene starting material.

Although we do not Wish to be bound by theoretical considerations, we believe that the A 3,21-dihydroxy ll keto 0 cyano pregnene, whether utilized as the starting material or obtained as an intermediate by hydrolysis of the corresponding A -3,2l-diacyloxy '11 keto 20- cyano-pregnene, is initially converted by the action of alcoholic alkali into the geometric isomer of the A -3,21-dihydroxy 11 keto -20 cyanopregnene starting material (Compound 9 on page 4), and that this isomer is, in turn, converted by the alcoholic alkali to the correspondin A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano-21-alkoxypregnene. It is postulated-that, in said geometric isomer of A -3,21-dihydroxy-11-keto-20-cyanopregnene, the positions of the substituents attached to the ZO-carbon atom of the A double bond is interchanged from that in the starting material. The foregoing theory is supported by the discovery that, when the isomer of A -3,21- dihydroxy-ll-keto-ZO-cyano-pregnene melting at 260-262" C. is reacted with an alkali metal hydroxide in solution in dioxane thereis obtained,

as sole product, the geometric isomer of A -3,21-

dihydroxy-l1-keto-20-cyano pregnene melting at 234-235 C. Moreover, when the reaction between alcoholic alkali and A -3,21-dihyd roxy-11- keto- 20-cyano-pregnene, (M. 'P, 260-262 10.) or its diacyl derivative, is carried out fora short 6 period of time, there is obtained a hiixture containing said geometric isomer of A "-3,2:1=-'dihydroxy-1l-keto-20-cyano-pregnene -'(M. -P. 234- 235 C.) admixed with A -3-hydroxy-11-keto- 20-cyano-21-alkoxy-pregnene. The theory is also substantiated by the further discovery that said geometric isomer of A 3,21-dihydroxy-'llketo-20-cyano-pregnene '(M. -P. 234-235" (7. can, in turn, be converted, by reaction with alcoholic alkali to A -3-hydroxy-11-keto --'2'0 cyano 21 alkoxy-pregnene in a yield of over of-theory.

The proportion of the geometric isomer of A -3,21-dihydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano pregnene and of A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano-2l-alkoxy-pregnene in the mixture depends on the length of time the reaction mixture is allowed to stand. For example, when a solution of the A -3, 1-dihydroxy-1l-keto-ZO-cyano pregnene starting material in a 3% methanoli'c solution of potassium hydroxide is allowed to stand for a period of 24 hours or longer, the A -3-hydroxy- 1l-keto-20-cyano 2l-alkoxy-pregnene predominates and can be isolated in a yield of over 80% of theory. When the reaction time is shortened to 3-4 hours, there is obtained a mixture of the geometric isomer of A -3,21-dihyd X ZO-cyano-pregnene and its 21-alkoxy derivative wherein the 3,2l-dihydroxy compound predominates, together with some unchanged starting material.

In carrying out our improved process, the A 3,21-dihydroxy-1l-keto-20-cyano-pregnene, or a diacylated derivative thereof such as A -3,2 1- diacetoxy-11-keto20-cyano-pregnene, A -3, 1- dipropionoxy-lleketo 20 cyano pregnene, the A -3,21-dibenzoxy-11-keto-20-cyano pregnene, and the like, is dissolved in a primary alcohol, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, and the like, and to this solution is added an aqueous solution of an-alkali metal hydroxide, such as aqueous sodium hydroxide, aqueous potassium hydroxide, and the like. Alternatively, the pregnene compound can be added to an alcoholic solution containing the alkali metal hydroxide. The resulting mixture is allowed to stand at about room temperature for a period of time sufficient to accomplish the transformation of the starting material into the corresponding A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano- 21-alkoxy-pregnene. The 21-a1koxy substituent in the product corresponds to the lower aliphatic alcohol utilized as the solvent for the reaction. For example, when the reaction is carried out utilizing a methanolic solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, the product formed is A -3-hydroxy- 11-keto-20-cyano 21 methoxy pregnene. The time required for completion of the reaction varies depending upon the concentration of alcoholic alkali utilized. It is ordinarily preferred to employa solution containing approximately 3% by weight of alkali metal hydroxide based on the total quantity of alcohol solvent present; when an alcoholic alkali of this concentration is utilized, the reaction is ordinarily complete in about 24 hours.

Th A -3-hydroxy r- 11 keto 20 cyano -21 alkoxy-pregnene is conveniently recovered from the reaction mixture by diluting the reaction mixture with water and cooling the aqueous mixture thus formed, whereupon the product crystallizes and can be recovered by filtration. The crude material thus obtained can be purified and separated into its individual components, if desired, by dissolving'in a minimum volume of a chloroform benzene mixture, and chromatographing over alumina. Elution of the chromatograph with benzene produces no product; the major portion of the material is eluted therefrom utilizing chloroform, and the residual material is eluted by means of acetone. Recrystallization of the chloroform fraction from a chloroform-petroleum ether solvent gives the A -3- hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano-2l-alkoxy pregnene in substantially pure form. Recrystallization of the acetone fraction of the chromatograph from chloroform-petroleum ether solvent gives the geometric isomer of the A -3,2l-dihydroxy-1lketo-ZO-cyano-pregnene starting material in substantially pure form. The melting point of said geometric isomer is 234-235 C., as compared with the melting point of said starting material which is 260-262 C. As noted hereinabove, this geometric isomer can be treated with alcoholic alkali to yield an additional quantity of A -3- hydroxy-l1-keto20-cyano-2lalkoxy pregnene.

The A -3-hydroxy 11 keto-20-cyano-21-a1koxy-pregnene can be oxidized to the corresponding 3-keto-derivative by reaction with an oxidizing agent such as N-bromoacetamide or N- bromosuccinimide. Where N-bromoacetamide or N-bromosuccinimide is used as the oxidizing agent, the A -3-hydroxy-ll-keto-ZO-cyano-Zlalkoxy-pregnene is ordinarily dissolved in an oranic solvent such as pyridine, tertiary butyl alcohol, methanol, and the like, and the oxidizing agent is added to the solution. The amount of N-bromoacetamide r N-bromosuccinimide employed in the oxidation reaction may vary from 1.5 to 3 moles per mole of A -3-hydroxy-l1-keto- 20 -cyano 21 alkoxy-pregnene. The preferred solvent is methanol, preferably containing a small amount of pyridine. The oxidation is ordinarily carried out at a temperature between about 18 and 40 C. and for a period of about 6 to 30 hours.

The resulting A -3,11-cliketo-20-cyano-2l-alkoxy-pregnene is then treated with osmium tetroxide, preferably in the presence of an organic solvent such as pyridine, thereby forming the 17,20-osmate ester of the corresponding 3,11- diketo-l7,20-dihydroxy 20 cyano 21 alkoxypregnane, such as the 17,20-osmate ester of 3,11- diketo-l7,20-dihydroxy 20 cyano-Zl-methoxypregnane, the 17,20-osmate ester of 3,11diketo- 17,20-dihydroxy-20-cyano-2l-ethoxy pregnane, the 17,20-osmate ester of 3,ll-diketo-l'7,20-dihydroxy 20 cyano-21-propoxypregnane, and the like.

As set forth hereinabove, this 17,20-osmate ester of the 3,11-diketo 17,20 dihydroxy 20- cyano-2l-alkoxypregnane can be prepared starting with the A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano-2lalkoxy-pregnene by reacting the latter compound with osmium tetroxide, preferably in the presence of an organic solvent such as pyridine, thereby forming the 17,20-osmate ester of 3,17,20-trihydroxy-1l-keto-ZO-cyano-2l-alkoxy pregnane. The nuclear hydroxyl grouping in the 3-position of the latter compound can then be oxidized to the corresponding 3-keto substituent by reacting said 17,20-osmate ester with a strong oxidizing agent, such as chromic acid, potassium permanganate, hypobromous acid, and the like. It is ordinarily preferred to carry out this oxidation reaction utilizing chromic acid in acetic acid solution.

The 17,2G-osmate ester of the 3,11-diketo- 17,20-dihydroxy-20-cyano 21 alkoxy-pregnane, prepared by either of the foregoing procedures, is reacted with a hydrolyzing agent. Instead of isolating the osmate ester, however, the reaction solution obtained from either the osmylation or oxidation procedures may be used, after neutralization, in this hydrolysis operation. Suitable hydrolyzing agents include aqueous alkali, or an aqueous alkaline solution of a polyhydroxy alcohol, such as mannitol, or an aqueous alkaline formaldehyde solution, or aqueous sodium sulfite. The preferred hydrolyzing agent comprises aqueous sodium sulfite and potassium bicarbonate, and the hydrolysis reaction is conveniently carried out at room temperature. Under these preferred hydrolysis conditions, the reaction is substantially complete in approximately 15 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered, evaporated to small volume, and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is then evaporated to dryness to produce the corresponding 3,11,20- triketo-l7-hydroxy-2l-alkoxy-pregnane, such as, for example, 3,11,20 triketo 1'7 hydroxy 21- methoxy pregnane, 3,11,20-triketo-1'7-hydroxy- 21-ethoXy-pregnane, 3,11,20-triketo-1'7-hydroxy- 21 propoxy pregnane, 3,11,20 triketo 17- hydroxy-2l-butoxy-pregnane, and the like.

The 3,11,20-triketo 17 hydroxy-2l-alkoxypregnane is then reacted with bromine, preferably in the presence of acetic acid, thereby producing the corresponding 3,11,20 triketo 4- bromo-l'l-hydroxy 21 alkoxy-pregnane. This compound is convenientl recovered from the reaction mixture by diluting the same with water, and extracting the resulting suspension with chloroform. The chloroform extract is washed with water, evaporated to dryness, and the residual material purified by recrystallization from acetone-ether.

The 3,11,20-triketo 4 bromo-l7-hydroxy-2lalkoxy-pregnane, prepared as described hereinabove, is then reacted with a dehydrohalogenating agent, such as pyridine, or collidine, whereby the elements of hydrogen bromide are removed from the molecule to produce A -3,11,20-triketol7-hydroxy-2l-alkoxy-pregnene. Alternatively, this dehydrohalogenation reaction can be conducted by reacting the 3,11,20-triketo-4-bromol7-hydroxy-21-alkoxy-pregnane with an aryl hydrazine, preferably 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine to produce the 2, l-dinitrophenylhydrazone of said 3,11,20-triketo4=-bromo-17-hydroxy-21-alkoxy-pregnane which readily loses the elements of hydrogen bromide to form the A -doub1e bond, followed by treatment of the resulting 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone of A -3,11,20-triketo-17-hydroxy-Zl-alkoxy-pregnene with pyruvic acid and glacial acetic acid to produce the desired A 3,11,20triketo-l7hydroxy-2l-alkoxy-pregnene.

The dehydrohalogenation reaction, where collidine is employed, is conveniently carried out by heating the reaction mixture under reflux for a period of approximately 5 hours. The collidine is then evaporated under reduced pressure, the

residue is dissolved in an organic solvent, such as chloroform, and the organic solvent extract is washed with dilute aqueous acid solution (to remove residual collidine) and then with water. The organic solvent extract is then evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residual material purified by recrystallization from alcohol to produce, in substantially pure form, the corresponding A 3,1l,20-triketo-17-hydroXy-21-alkoxy-pregnene, such as, for example, A -3,1l,20- triketo-17-21-methoxy-pregnene, A -3,l1,20 triketo-1'7-hydroXy-2l-ethoxy-pregnene, A -3,11,20- triketo-l'l-hydroxy 21 propoxy-pregnene, and the like.

Thefollowing examples illustratev methods of carrym g; out the present invention, but it is to be understood that these examples are given for purposes of illustration and not of limitation;

Example-1' A solution 05 18 g. of sodium. hydroxide in 90- cc. of waterwas added to asolution containing 12 g. of A "-3, 2l-dihydroxy-11-keto-20-cyanopregnene (M. P; 260-262? C.) dissolved in 500 cc. of absolute methanol. The resulting mixture was vigorously agitated to mix the components and then allowed to-stand atroom temperature for a.- period of. 48 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted-with 1200 cc. of water and the resulting, crystalline slurry was chilled overnight and filtered... The. crystalline product was washed with water'until the-washings were neutral, and air-dried at a temperature of approximately 90 C. to give 10.8 g. of impure A -3-hydroxy-11- keto 2-0 cyano 2'1 methoxy pregnene contaminated with the geometric isomer of the A 3;21edihydroxy llketor-20-cyano-pregnene starting material. The melting point of the impure product-thuso-btained was:21 0-213-" C.

This crudeproduct was dissolved in a minimum volume'of 1:1 mixture of chloroform and benzene, and; then chromatographedby passage through a column containing 160 g. of acid-washed aluminaprepared in benzene. The resulting adsorbate Was'theneluted, in order, with benzene, with chloroform, and: finally with acetone. No material. was eluted. by the benzene. Evaporation of the chloroform eluate gave 9.35 g. of crystals; M. P. 216221 G. Evaporation of theacetonev eluate gave 1.37 g. ofv crystals; M.. P. 2-24-232 C.

Recrystallization of the 9.35 gchloroform fraction from. chloroform-petroleum ether (B. P. 90-1-15" 0.) gave 8.65 g. of. substantially pure A 3- hydroxy 11 keto- 20-- cyano -'21 methoxypregnene; P. 220-222 C. A sample of this product was further purified by repeated recrystallization from chloroform-petroleum ether to give arr analytically pure sample; M. P. 221- 222 C.; [.al- =+46 (0:1% in acetone). Anal. calcd for C23H33O3N1 C, 74.35; H, 8.95"; N, 3.77; found: C, 74.34;,1-1, 8285-; N, 3.94;: active hydrogen calcd: 1.; found: 1-.1= atroomtemperature.

This product was further characterized by acetylation. utilizing pyridine and acetic anhydride. as the acetylatingagent. Whether the acetylation reaction was carried out by allowing the A 3 hydroxy 11 keto 20 cyano 21'- methoxy-pregnene to stand at room temperature overnight, or by heating the mixture of the reactants under reflux for a period of. hour, the only. product obtained. was themonoacetate', A 3--- acetoxy 11 keto.-- 20.-cyano 21 methoxypregnene; M. P. 158-159" 6.; [c] .=+-75 (.C=1% in acetone); anal. calcd for C25H35O4N: 0,72,37; H, 8.53 N-,.3.39; CH-aO, 7.5; CHaCO, 10.4; found:. 0,. 71.97;, H, 8.40; N, 3.79 CI-IsO, 6.6; CI'IBCQ, 11.63... v

Recrystallization of the. 1.3.7 g, acetone-fraction" of the chromatograph (obtained hereinabove) from. chloroformepetroleum ether (B. P. 90-115 CL) gave. 1.05.. g. of the geometric isomer oftlie A -3,21-dihydi'oxy-ll-keto-20.-cyanoepregr name starting material; M. P. 234-235 C- (as compared. withthe MLP. offthe starting isomer which was 260-262" 0.); [a]' =+50 (C=1% in acetone); anal. cal'cfdfor C22H3103N'f. C, 73.91; H, 8.74;. N, 3292;. foundz. C, 74.16; H, 8.75.; N, 4.08.

.This product wa fu ther characterized by 1 10 acetylation utilizing acetic anhydride. andpyridine as the acetylating agent. 0z28'g.v of saidrgeometric isomer of A -3,2l-dihydroxy-11.-keto-20:- cyano-pregnenewas reacted for: a period of. about 15 hours at room temperature: with L5. cc. acetic anhydride and 1.5 cc. pyridine. The reaction mixture was diluted with water tofgive': 0.23 g.-,of the correspondin geometric isomer of A -3,21.- diacetoxy-l1-keto-20-cyano pregnene which;- after recrystallization from: methanol, melted at l-34-l35 C.;v [a'1 =|-80' (C=J.=% in acetone): anal. calcd for CzeHssOsNr C, 70272;: H, 7.99.; N, 3.17; found: C, 70.85; H, 8.06; N-',. 3135:.

Example 2 0.5 g. of the isomer of A -3,21--dihydroxy--11e keto-20-cyano-pregnene (M. P. 234-235. C.) was dissolved in 17.5 cc. of methanol and tothis. solutionwas added a: solution containing 0.6 g. of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 1.5 cc. water and 1 cc. of methanol. The resulting mixture wast-allowedtostand at room temperature for-a period of 24 hours, andthe reaction mixturewas diluted with cc. of water; The aqueous: mixture was cooled to about 0 C., the crystalline slurry thus obtained was filtered and the crystalline product was dried to give-0l45 g. of crude material; M. P. 209-212" C. v

0.3- g. of thiscrude. material was dissolved. in 10 cc. of chloroform and chromatographed through 12- g, of acid-washed alumina. The: adsorbate was eluted first with. chloroform and then with acetone, and the eluates" were evaporated. to dryness separately to give- 0.269 g. 01- a 'ChIDIOl form fraction (M. P. 218-221 C.) and 0.021 g. of' an acetone fraction" (M. P. 228-234 6.)

Recrystallization of the acetone-fraction: from chloroform-petroleum ether gave 0.0 14 g". of unchanged starting material, i. e., the geometric isomer of A -3,21dihydroxy-11-keto-20-cyanopregnene melting: at 234 C.

Recrystallization of the chloroform fraction? from chloroform-petroleum ether gave 0.23 gof substantially pure- A '-3-hydroxy=1'1-keto-2-0Fcyano-21-methoxy-pregnene;j M. P. 22-l222.5 C. The melting point of. a mixture of this product with the 234-235 C. isomer of A -3,21-dihydroxy- I1-keto -20-cyano-pregnene (used'as starting'mat'erial in this example) was depressed. Therewas no depression in melting point whenthis mate'- rial was admixed with- A '-3'-hydroxy1-1-keto-20 cyano-21-methoxy pregnene (as prepared here'- ihabove starting with the 260-262 C. melting isomer of A -3,2'1--dihyd'roxy-1 1-keto-20-cyanopregne'ne).

Example 3.

A solution of 12 g. of sodium hydroxide in 50 cc. of water was addedto a solution containing 10' g. of A 3-,2'1-dihydroxy-II-keto-20cyano pregnene (M. P. 260-262 0.) dissolved in 350' cc. of absolute ethanol; and the atmosphere above the solution was replaced by nitrogen. 'I'h'ere sulting mixture was allowed to st'and at room temperature for aperiod' of' 24 hours; at the end of which period the color of the solution was wine-red.

The reaction mixture was neutralized with 2.5 N-hydrochloric acid and diluted wan 750 cc: of water. The crystalline slurry was chilled ref a period of 6' hours and filtered. The crystalline product was washed with water until the washings were neutral and air-dried in. vacuo: ata

temperature. of approximately 50 C; to give 10 i gor; impure A di-hydroxy-ll-keto-2o cyano- 2l-ethoxy-pregnene contaminated with the geo- 20 cyano pregnene starting material. The

melting point of the impure product thus obtained was 101-130 C.

Thiscrude product was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of chloroform and benzene, and then chromatographed by passage through a column containing 170 g. of acid-washed alumina prepared in benzene. The resulting adsorbate was then "eluted, first with chloroform, then with a 1:1 mixture of chloroform and acetone, and finally with acetone; a

The acetone eluate from the chromatogram gave 2.5 g. of an oil which may be purified, if desired, to give the geometric isomer of the A 3,21 dihydroxy-ll-keto-ZO cyano-pregnene starting material.

The chloroform and chloroform-acetone (1:1) eluted, in the first fractions, 6.7 g. of a substance which was recovered by evaporation of the eluat es.' When' this material was rubbed with methanol it solidified to give a product which melted between 90 and 105 C. This crude solidmaterial was purified by repeated recrystallization from acetone-petroleum ether (B. P. 75-115 C.) until a constant melting point was reached, thereby giving 3 g. of substantially pure A 3 hydroxy-l1-keto-20-cyano-21-ethoxy pregene; M. P. 144-145 C. (as determined 'on material which was thoroughly powdered before drying) [a] =|47 (C=l% in acetone). Anal. calcd. for C24H3503N; C, 74.76; H, 9.15; -N,'3.63; found: C. 74.75; H, 9.00; N, 3.92.

P This product was further characterized by acetylation utilizing pyridine-acetic anhydride as the acetylating agent. The crude acetylated product thus obtained was purified by recrystallizaion from alcohol to give, as the sole prodnot, the monoacetate, A -3-acetoxy-11-keto-20- cyano-2'1-ethoxy-pregnene in substantially pure "formfM. P. 1395-1405" c. [a] ='73.5 (0:1% in acetone) anal. calcd. for C26H3704N; C, 73.03; H, 8.72; N, 8.27; C2H50, 10.52; found: C, 72.94; H, 8.72; N, 3.37; C3H5O, 8.20.

Example 4 1.0 g. of osmium tetroxide was added to a solution containing 1 g. of A -3-acetoxy-11-keto- 20-cyano-2l-methoxy-pregnene in 1 cc. of pyridine and cc. of benzene. The resulting mixture was allowed to stand at approximately room temperature for a period of 6 days. The reaction mixture was then diluted with 40 cc. of methanol, and a solution containing 4 g. of sodium sulfite and 1.8 g. of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 50 cc. of water was added thereto. The resulting mixture was stirred vigorously for a period of about hours, and the mixture thus obtained was extracted with 7 portions of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were washed with water until neutral, dried over sodium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to produce 0.788 g. of 3,17-dihydroxy- 11,20-dilreto-ZI-methoxy-pregnane which was obtained in the form of a glassy solid.

This product was dissolved in 2 cc. of pyridine, and 2 cc. of acetic anhydride was added to the resulting solution. This mixture was allowed to stand overnight, the reaction mixture was mixed with 40 cc. of water to decompose excess acetic anhydride), and the aqueous solution was extracted with 6 portions of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were thoroughly washed with water, dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid, and aqueous sodium bicarbonate S ll IL The chloroform extracts were then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and evaporated to a volume of 5 cc.

This solution was passed through an alumina column prepared in benzene and the resulting chromatogram was eluted with chloroform. Cut 1 was partially crystalline, cuts 2 and .3 were crystalline, cut 4 was an oil, and cut 5 upon evaporation yielded no product. Cuts 1, 2 and 3 were combined and recrystallized from methanol (including treatment of the methanol solution of the product with activated charcoal fol lowed by filtration) to produce 0.40 g. of 3-acetoxy-11,20-diketo-l7-hydroxy 21 methoxy pregnane; M. P. 198-202 C. This product was further purified by recrystallization from methanol to give material melting at 201-202 C. Analysis calcd for C24H3606 C, 68.54; H, 8.63; found; C, 68.42; 68.66;1-1, 8.49; 8.78.

Example 5 Six g. of A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20 cyano- 21-methoxy-pregnene were dissolved in a mixture of 50 cc. of t-butanol and 15 cc. of pyridine. Two cc. of water and 5.6 g. of N-bromoacetamide were added to the resulting solution and the mixture was stirred in the dark at room temerature for a period of approximately 17 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 180 cc. of water while stirring and cooling the resulting solution whereupon a crystalline product precipitated. The crystalline slurry was filtered, and the crystalline filter cake was washed with a small volume of water. The filter cake was dissolved without drying in 40 cc. of glacial acetic acid and treated at a temperature of 40 C. with 1.5 g. of zinc dust which was added in several portions to the acetic acid solution. Activated charcoal was then added to the resulting mixture which was filteredat 40 C., and the filtrate was then diluted'with cc. of water whereupon the product in solution crystallized. This crystalline material was recovered by filtration and dried to give 5.6 g. of substantially pure A" 3,11 diketo 20 cyano-21-methoxypregnene; M. P. 209-210 C. yield approximately 93% of theory.

A sample of this material was further purified by recrystallization from dilute methanol to produce A -3,11-diketo-20-cyano-21-methoxy-pregnane melting at 209211 C. [al :+55 (0:1 in methanol); analysis calcd for C23H3103N; C, 74.76; H, 8.46; N, 3.79; found: C, 74.83; H, 8.37; N, 4.01.

Example 6 8'grams of A -3,1l-diketo-20-cyano-2l-methoxy-pregnene were dissolved in 100 cc. of benzene containing 8 cc. of pyridine. 9.6g. of osmium tetroxide were added to this solution, and the resuiting mi xture was allowedto stand at room temperature for approximately 5 days. The reaction mixture was then diluted with cc. of chloroform and 200 cc. of methanol. To the resulting solution was added 280 cc. of an. aqueous solution containing 58 g. of sodium sulfite'and 58 g. of potassium bicarbonate. The mixture thus obtained was stirred (at room temperaturey' for a period of approximately 24 hours, and the reaction mixture was filtered through diatomaceous silica (Supercel) and the Supercel cake was washed thoroughly with chloroform. The filtrate was separated into an organic layer and-an aqueous layer, and the aqueous layerwas examazes chloroformextract were combined and the mixture was wash'ed'thoroughly with aqueous sodium carbonate solution, then with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, and finally with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The washed chloroform extracts were dried and evaporated to give 1.28 g. of an oil; This oil was crystallized from acetone-petroleum ether (B; P; 90-115CI) togive 622g. of dense prisms of substantially pure 3,11,20' trilzeto l'7i-hydroxy- 21 methoxy pregnane; M. P; 164-166 C.; [al :+76 (C=1% in methanol); analysis calcd for Cal-13205; C, 70.18; H, 8.57; found: C, 70.55; H, 8.51.

Example 7 Two g. (5.31 millimoles) of 3,11,20-triketo-17- hydroxy-2l-methoxy pregnane were dissolved in 40 cc; of pure glacial acetic acid' and 1 cc. of' 1N hydrobromic acid in acetic acid was added to-the solution. A solution of 5.3lmlVI. bromine and5.3l mM. sodium acetate dissolved in 10.4 cc. acetic acid was added to the solution of the pregnane compound; During the addition of the bromine solution, the temperature of the reaction mixture was maintained at 25 C., and the bromine solu-- tion was added'dropwise at'such a rate that each drop was decolorized. The-reaction mixture was immediately diluted with 400 cc. of water andthe aqueous mixture was extracted with chloroform. The chloroform solution was'washed with water, then with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, and dried. The dry chloroform solution was then evaporated to give a crude 3,11,20-triketo 4- bromo-17-hydroxy-21-methoxy-pregnane which was obtained as an oil. A small amount of this oil was'further purified by recrystallization from chloroform-petroleum ether (B. P. 90-115 C.) to give crystals which decomposed near 185-18? C. depending on the rate of heating; [a] :+114 (C=1% in methanol). Analysis calcd for C22H3105Br; C, 58.02; H, 6.86; Br, 17.56; found: C, 58.32; H, 6.61; Br, 17.46.

7.9 g. of the crude oily 3,11,20-triketo-4-bromo- 17-hydroxy-2l-methoxy-pregnane was dried by benzene distillation in. vacuo, and the dried oil was dissolved in.25 cc. of redistilled collidine. The resulting solution was heated under reflux under a nitrogen atmosphere for a period of approximately hour. The collidine hydrobromide thus formed was removed by filtration, the dark filtrate wasv distilled in vacuo, and the residual material was dissolved in chloroform. The chloroform solution was. washed with water, then with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid, and finally with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The washed chloroform solution was dried, filtered and distilled in vacuo at a temperature of 25 C. to give an oil which was dried by benzene distillation in vacuo. The dry oil was dissolved in a small amount of chloroform, and the chloroform solution chromatographed by passage through acid-washed alumina. The alumina adsorbate was eluted, in order, with benzene, benzenechloroform (:1; 1:1; 1:9); pure chloroform; and finally with acetone. By evaporation of the middle fractions (eluted with benzene-chloroform 1:1 and 1:9) there was isolated 0.52 g. of a crude crystalline product (M. P. 227-240 C.). This material was further purified by repeated recrystallization from methanol (including treatment of the methanol solution with activated charcoal followed by filtration) thereby producing substantially pure A -3,11,20-triketo-17-hydroXy-21-methoxy-pregnene; M. P. 250-253 0.;

analysis calcidf for (322113095; C, 70256;. H, 8208;

Various. changes and". modifications may be made in carrying:out'thepresent' invention without: departing fromithei spirit: and scope thereof; Insofar as thesechanges and modifications'are; within: the: purview of the annexed claims, they are toibezconsideredas part of'ourinvention.

Wetclaim':

1. TheTpIQCBSSfOf preparing 21-alkylethers of A 3:,1':1,20 triketo- 17,21 dihydroxy pregnene whichv comprises; reacting alcoholic alkali with: a compound. selected from. the class which agent;

2. The process which comprises reacting alcoholic alkali with" a. compound selected from the class which consists of Al -3,2l'edihydroxy-l'llieto-20-cyano-pregnene and A -3,2l-diacyloxy- 1&1eketo-20 cyano-pregnenes; thereby producing A1 3-'- hydroxy- 1.1--keto.=- 20-cyano-2l-alkoxypregnene, reacting this compound. with osmium tetroxide to produce the 1.7,20-osmate ester of 3,17,20- trihyd'roxy 1:11- keto 20 cyano 21- alkoxy-pregnane, reacting. this 'osmate, ester with an oxidizing agent: followed by a hydrolyzing agent to form: 3511,20-triketor-l'F7-hydroxy-21- alkoxy-pregnane; reacting: this; compound with bromine to. form. 3,11,20-triketo2-4a-bromo-l'7-hydroxy-Zl-alkoxy-pregnane; and; heating this. 4- bromoderivative: with a: dehydrohalogenating agent to. produce? A?-3,1i20-triketo-17-hydroxy ZI-allioxy-pregnene;

3: The. process of: preparing 21-alkyl ethers' of A -3,1l,20 triketo 175,21.- dihydroxy' pregnene which comprises: reacting: alcoholic alkali with a. compoundiselected. from the: class which consists-10f A 3;21dihydroxy-1'1-keto-20i-oyanopregnene and A -3",2l-diacyloxy-ll-keto 20-cy ano-pregnenes, thereby-producing",A -3 hydroxy- 1l 'keto zfl cyano=2liealkoxy pregnene, reacting this: compound. with an. oxidizing. agent to form A "-3.;Il1-dilreto20. cyano 2lealkoxy-pregnene, re'- acting said A -3,lll-diketo-20-cyano-21-alkoxypregnene with osmiumatetrcxide and hydrolyzing the-'osmateester thus obtained to. form13,11,20- tr-iketoe17-hydroxy-2 1-a1koxy=pregnane, reacting this compound with bromine, and heating the resulting 4-bromo-derivative with a dehydrohalogenating agent.

1. The process of preparing A -3,l1,20-triketo- 1.7-hydroxy-2l-methoxy-pregnene which comprises reacting A -3,21-dihydro-xy-11-ket0-20- cyano-pregnene with a methanolic solution of sodium hydroxide to produce A -3-hydroxy11- keto 20 cyano 21 methoxy pregnene, reacting this compound with an oxidizing agent to form A 3,11 diketo 20 cyano 21 methoxy pregnene, reacting said A" 3,11 diketo- 20-cyano-2l-methoxypregnene with osmium tetroxide and hydrolyzing the osmate ester thus obtained to produce 3,11,20-triketo-17-hyd-roxy- ZI-methQXy-pregnane, reacting the latter compound with bromine to form 3,11,20-triketo-4- 4'- bromo 17 hydroxy 21 methoxy pregnane, and heating this i-bromo derivative with a dehydrohalogenating agent to produce A -3,11,20- triketo-17-hydroXy-21-methoxy-pregnene.

5. The process of preparing A -3,11,20-triketo 17-hydrcxy-2l-methoxy-pregnene which comprises reacting A -3,21 dihydroxy 11 keto- ZO-cyano-pregnene with a methanolic solution of sodium hydroxide to produce A -3-hydroxy- 11keto-20cyano-2l-methoxy-pregnene, reacting this compound, in solution in tertiary butanol and pyridine, with N-bromoacetamide thereby oxidizing the 3-hydroxy substitutent to a keto radical to form A 3,11 diketo 20 cyano- 21-methoxy-pregnene, reacting said A 3,11- diketo 20 cyano 21 methoxy pregnene with osmium tetroxide in benzene solution containing pyridine and reacting the osmate ester thus obtained with an aqueous solution containing sodium sulfite to produce 3,11,20-triketo-1'7- hydroxy-21-methoxy-pregnane, reacting the latter compound with bromine in acetic acid solution to form 3,11,20 triketo 4 bromo 17- hydroxy-Zl-methoxy-pregnane, and heating this ei-bromo derivative with collidine under reflux to produce A 3,11,20 triketo 17 hydroxy- 21-methoxy-p1'egnene.

6. The process of converting the 3-hydroxy substituent of A 3,21 dihydroxy 11 keto- 20-cyano-pregnene to a 3-keto-radical without, at the same time, oxidizing the hydroxy radical attached to the 21-carbon atom, which comprises reacting said A 3,21 dihydroxy 11 keto- ZO-cyano-pregnene with a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in a lower aliphatic alcohol thereby producing A" 3 hydroxy 11 keto- 20-cyano-21-alkoxy-pregnene, and reacting this compound with an oxidizing agent.

'7. The process which comprises reacting a compound selected from the class which consists of A 3,21 dihydroxy 11 keto 20 cyanopregnene and A" 3,21 diacyloxy 11 keto- 20-cyano-pregnenes, with a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in a lower aliphatic alcohol thereby producing A 3 hydroxy 11 keto- 20-cyano-2l-alkoxy-pregnene.

8. The process which comprises reacting A 3,2l dihydroxy 11 keto 20 cyano pregnene with a solution of sodium hydroxide in methanol to produce A -3-hydroxy-11-keto-20- cyano-21-methoxy-pregnene.

9. The process which comprises reacting A 3,21 dihydroxy 11- keto 20 cyano pregnene with a solution of sodium hydroxide in ethanol to produce A -3-hydroXy-11-keto-20- cyano-21-ethoxy-pregnene.

10. The process for preparing 21-alkyl ethers of A 3,21 dihydroxy 11 keto 20 cyanopregnene Which comprises reacting a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in a lower aliphatic alcohol with a compound selected from the class which consists of the isomer of A -3,2l-dihydroxy-1l-keto-ZO-cyano-pregnene melting at ap proximately 260262 C. and 3,21-diacy1 derivatives thereof, thereby producing a mixture consisting of the isomer of A -3,2l-dihydroxy-llketo-20-cyano-pregnene melting at 234-235 C. and its 21-a1kyl ether, and recovering said 21- alkyl ether of A -3,21-dihydroxy-11-keto-20- cyano-pregnene from said mixture.

11. The process which comprises reacting the isomer of A -3,21-dihydroxy-ll-keto-ZO-cyanopregnene, melting at 234-235 C., with a solution of sodium hydroxide in methanol to produce A -3-hydroxy ll-keto 20-cyano-2l-methoxypregnene.

12. The process which comprises reacting A 3-hydroxy-11-keto-20-cyano-21-alkoxy-pregnene with an oxidizing agent to form A -3,11-diketo- 20-cyano-2l-alkoxy-pregnene, reacting this compound with osmium tetroxicle and hydrolyzing the osmate ester thus obtained to form 3-1120- triketo-l'l-hydroxy 21-alkoxy-pregnane, reacting this compound with bromine, and heating the resulting 4-bromo derivative with a dehydrohalogenating agent to produce A 3,1l,2O-triketo-17- hydroxy-Zl-alkoxy-pregnene.

13. The process which comprises reacting A"- B-hydroXy-ll-keto-ZO cyano-21-methoxy-pregnene with N-bromoacetamide in solution in tertiary butanol containing pyridine to produce A 3,11,-diketo20-cyano-2l-methoxy-pregnene, reacting this compound, in solution in benzene containing pyridine, with osmium tetroxide to produce the 17,20-osmate ester of 3,11diketo-i7,20- dihydroxy-20-cyano-21 methoxy-pregnane, reacting said osmate ester with an aqueous solution containing sodium sulfite to form 3,11,20-triketol7-hydroxy-21-methoxy pregnene, reacting this compound with bromine in acetic acid solution to produce 3,11,20-triketo-4hromo-1'l-hydroxy- 21-methoxy-pregnane, and heating this -bromoderivative with collidine to produce A -3,1l,2O- triketo-17-hydroXy-21-methoxy-pregnene.

HUANG MENTION. JOHN C. BABCOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,462,133 Sarett Feb. 22, 1 49 2,541,104 Sarett Feb. 13, 1951 2,541,105 Sarett 13, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Sarett: Jour. Biol. Chem. 162, 691-631, (1946). Sarett: Jour. Am. Chem. Soc. 70, 1454-1458 (1948). 

1. THE PROCESS OF PREPARING 21-ALKYL ETHERS OF $4-3,11,20 - TRIKETO - 17,21 - DIHYDROXY - PREGNENE WHICH COMPRISES REACTING ALCOHOLIC ALKALI WITH A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS WHICH CONSISTS OF $17 - 3,21-DIHYDROXY-11-KETO-20-CYANOPREGNENE AND $17 - 3,21 - DIACYLOXY - 11 - KETO 20-CYANO-PREGNENES, THEREBY PRODUCING $17-3HYDROXY - 11 - KETO - 20 - CYANO - 21 - ALKOXYPREGNENE, CONVERTING THIS COMPOUND TO THE 17,20-OSMATE ESTER OF 3,11-DIKETO-17,20-DIHYDROXY-20-CYANO-21-ALKOXY-PREGNANE,HYDROLYZING SAID OSMATE ESTER TO FORM 3,11,20T-TRIKETO-17-HYDROXY-21-ALKOXY-PREGNANE, REACTING THIS COMPOUND WITH BROMINE, AND HEATING THE RESULTING 4-BROMO DERIVATIVE WITH A DEHYDROHALOGENATING AGENT. 